Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino joined city officials and community leaders at Adams Park in Roslindale to highlight the City’s five year, $1.8 billion Capital Plan, which includes 336 projects across Boston, investing $100 million more than last year and creating nearly 700 construction jobs in FY 2013.The City’s FY13-17 capital plan aims to bring people together by improving the quality of life in Boston’s neighborhoods, focusing projects to improve local parks and community centers. There are 95 parks improvement projects, accounting for over ¼ of all capital projects with an expected cost of $90 million. Adams Park, one of the new projects in this year’s plan, will receive upgrades including a permanent band platform and electrical system, new walkways, and landscaping.

“Adams Park is a great example of how our capital plan works to bring people together. With this plan, every resident is within a 10 minute walk to the nearest project,” Mayor Menino said. “Just as important as investing in buildings is investing in programs and places where neighbors can come together to have fun and connect with each other. I’m excited that this capital plan makes play a priority.”

The City’s $1.8 billion five-year capital plan features $217 million worth of new project authorizations in 2013, including $90 million of investment in the City’s parks.

Capital projects in parks include:

Total park overhauls at American Legion Park in East Boston and Hunt/Almont Park in Mattapan

Replacing play equipment and safety surfacing at Joyce Playground in Brighton, Mothers Rest in Fenway, and Ringgold Park in the South Doherty Playground in Charlestown

Replacing playing courts (basketball and street hockey) at Harambee Park in Mattapan, Savin Hill Park in Dorchester, and Moakley Park in South Boston

Improving drainage on playing fields, as at Healy Field in Roslindale, Mission Hill Field, Billings Field in West Roxbury, and M Street Field in South Boston

Installing lighting controls on flood lights on playing fields, so they can shut off automatically, saving time and money in parks throughout the City

General improvements to pathways, landscaping, benches, etc., at Childe Hassam Park in the South End, Brighton Square Park, and Highland Park in Roxbury.

Recreation: The City will make major investments in Boston’s neighborhood parks and community centers, with a goal of fostering deeper community connections through innovative programs, partnerships, and play. The Flaherty Pool in Roslindale will receive a complete $5.6 million renovation, and the Draper Pool in West Roxbury will get $3.75 million upgrade, breaking ground early next year.

Redesign and Reinvest: The City plans to invest in major infrastructure upgrades for City roadways and buildings, including 40 miles of roadway reconstruction and investments to facilities in our neighborhood schools, community centers, and libraries. A new East Boston branch library will break ground later this month.

The Dudley Plan: Mayor Menino will continue his investment in the revitalization of Dudley Square, a $115 million development project that will revitalize the historic Ferdinand building and bring new people, businesses, and economic opportunity to Dudley Square. The project broke ground this spring and is expected to be completed in Fall 2014.

“Careful planning and thoughtful decisions – in many cases very difficult decisions – over the last several years have positioned Boston for greater success as economic recovery takes hold,” Mayor Menino said. “By investing in people and programs, as well as infrastructure, we continue to build a better Boston.